By Edward Chaykovsky
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is siding with former division ruler Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53KOs) to overcome and beat the new kid on the block, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17KOs).
Lewis, an Olympic gold medal winner just like Klitschko and Joshua, is picking experience over youth and power. Klitschko has an enormous edge when it comes to experience, number of fights and championship rounds.
There were serious negotiations for Klitschko-Joshua to take place on December 10th. The fight fell out last Monday after Klitschko suffered a minor calf injury and the WBA's inability to render a decision on sanctioning the fight. The WBA title was vacated a few weeks ago by Tyson Fury.
Joshua is now targeting the fight for next spring. The World Boxing Association has yet to make a ruling on whether or not they intend to approve Joshua-Klitschko for the vacant belt. There is also the issue with Lucas Browne having a legal claim to fight for the title next.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, wants to stage the fight on a date in March or April, and is currently in talks with Millennium Stadium [now the Principality Stadium] to stage the event. If a deal comes together, Showtime is expected to televise in the United States and Sky Sports Box Office in the UK, with RTL handling Germany.
Joshua is still due to make the second defence of his IBF belt, likely against Eric Molina, at the Manchester Arena on December 10.
While he gives Klitschko the edge to win, Lews still wonders if Wladimir still has the ability to go twelve in a hard fight. Klitschko seemed to have little left when he lost to Fury last November.
"I would have to say Wladimir [will beat Joshua], because of the experience. We've seen a lot of Anthony Joshua's fights but he's knocked everyone out, so I say well what has he learned and where is the experience there? Wladimir is almost up to 70 fights," Lewis told Sky Sports.
"You've got the experience and the old, and the new and the strong. So which one are you going to take? I'll take experience but only slightly. You also have to look at Wladimir's body. Can Wladimir body take more going into the ring, more fights? I don't know where he is on that level, we're going to have to see."